NYCFC star David Villa named 2016 MLS MVP

David Villa was named Major League Soccer’s MVP on Tuesday after scoring 23 goals and adding four assists for New York City FC during the 2016 season.

Villa was the first player signed by NYCFC when the club joined the league prior to the 2015 season. After missing the playoffs in its inaugural season, the 35-year-old forward led the club to a second-place finish in the Eastern Conference behind crosstown rival New York Red Bulls.

“I’m very proud to represent NYCFC and to receive this award,” Villa said. “It’s a big day for me because this is one of the things I said I wanted to do when I came here two years ago.

“This is an important day in my career — this is an important moment for me. This award is for the best player in this amazing league which has many quality players so this is a very happy and proud day for me.”

The former Spain international beat out New York Red Bulls duo Sacha Kljestan and Bradley Wright-Phillips for the Landon Donovan MVP Award, receiving 25.9 percent of the total votes.

Wright-Phillips, the Golden Boot winner with 24 goals, finished second with 19.3 percent of the votes cast by players, media and club management. Kljestan, who led the league in assists with 20, had 17.6 percent of the votes.

Toronto FC’s Sebastian Giovinco came in fourth place despite receiving the same amount of media votes as Villa and Wright-Phillips. The fact he missed six games through injury likely played a part in the Italian missing out on his second straight MVP award.